Iran has publicly denied President Donald Trump’s claims that the United States and Iran have had “productive dialogue” to end the war, but speculation is still mounting about how and where the two countries will meet for further talks.
There are rumors in Pakistan that direct talks will begin from here.
Pakistan has indicated it is willing to host any negotiations, sources told CNN.There is a plan for Islamabad to host a meeting between the United States and Iran later this week, with Vice President J.D. Vance likely to attend, two sources told CNN.
So far, senior Pakistani sources contacted by CNN have been unusually tight-lipped about the possibility of talks, citing the sensitivity surrounding the issue.
But there are several reasons why Pakistan is an ideal meeting place for negotiators from Washington and Tehran.
It has a long border with Iran, shares cultural and religious ties with it, and is home to the largest Shia Muslim population outside of Iran.
Unlike the Islamic Gulf states, the country has no U.S. military bases and has not been targeted by the barrage of Iranian missiles and drones that have wreaked havoc across the region. Iran also allowed some ships to pass through the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Islamabad has also re-emerged as a key partner of the United States during President Trump’s second term, thanks in part to the vast resources of rare earths and critical minerals it claims to exist, which has drawn Washington’s attention.
Trump also has a close relationship with powerful military chief Asim Munir, whom he has met many times and calls him his “favorite field marshal.”
During a meeting with Munir in the Oval Office last summer, Trump pointed out that Pakistanis “know so much about Iran, they know it better than most people.”
Pakistan also has its own strong domestic incentives to encourage detente.
The South Asian country of 230 million people is highly vulnerable to protracted regional conflicts due to its dependence on energy supplies from the Middle East.
Kevin Liptak, Kylie Atwood, Zachary Cohen and Jennifer Hansler contributed reporting.
